Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Shreveport, LA

We, the parish of Sacred Heart, are committed to enriching the Spirituality of the parish family, the Christian community, and all brothers and sisters created in God's divine image and likeness.  We are called by the Holy Spirit, under the leadership of our Bishop and Pastor, to assist others through the development and promotion of various ministries.  We pray for Divine guidance that we may serve others with truth, courage, forethought, and compassion.

You can now donate/tithe/contribute online towards the needs of our church.
Please visit our online-giving page at the top bar of this page.

New Horizons
The Lamb of God
by:  Fr. Mark Watson, Pastor
 

One aspect of Catholicism is that we believe that not only people and objects are holy but also that time is holy.  We have just completed the Seasons of Advent in which we reflected on the Comings of the Lord: his coming into the world at Christmas and his final coming at the end of time.    We have just celebrated the Season of Christmas in which we reflected on the meaning of the Incarnation and Manifestation of our Lord to the nations and at his Baptism.  We look forward to the Season of Lent during which we will go through a conversion process as we prepare to celebrate Easter.  We will than celebrate the Season of Easter during which we will unpack the meaning of the Resurrection and the new life we received in Baptism. 

This Sunday we celebrate the beginning of  Ordinary Time.   Ordinary Time is the time during which we reflect on the ministry of Jesus and experience how God is working out the salvation of ourselves and those of the world. 

In the first reading the boy Samuel is sleeping in the Temple at Shiloh.  Before our first reading we find the verse:  “During the time young Samuel was minister to the Lord under Eli, a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent (Samuel 3:1).”  It had been a long time since God had spoken to his people.

God calls Samuel three different times while he is asleep and Samuel does not know it is the Lord.   Each time he believes that Eli the priest has called him and so he goes to Eli and asks why he called.   The first two times Eli believes Samuel is dreaming and so he tells him to go back to sleep.  After the third time, Eli tells Samuel to say, “Speak Lord your servant is listening (1Samuel 3:10).”   Then God speaks and Samuel listens.

God begins to do something new in Israel.  God punishes Eli and his sons who were being unfaithful to God and God now uses Samuel to begin a new age of grace.  The hour of the priest will now yield to the age of the prophet.  This new age begins with Samuel and continues with Nathan, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

We see God’s holy time at work as well in today’s Gospel.  John the Baptist sees Jesus walking by and calls out to two of his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God (John 1:36).”  Two of John’s followers listen and begin to follow Jesus.  Jesus turns around and invites the disciples to “Come and you will see (John 1:39).”  They follow Jesus and stay with him from about 4 pm until the end of the day.

The moment of grace flows from one invitation to the next.  Andrew later goes out and brings Simon to Jesus.  Jesus names Simon, Cephas or Peter.  Just as God’s grace broke into the world when Jesus invited the disciples to stay with him and when Andrew invited Simon Peter to follow Jesus, so God’s grace continues to break into our world.

The readings speak of God doing something new in Israel through Samuel and in the entire world through Jesus and his followers.  Ordinary life is penetrated anew by the Word of God and the presence of God. May we be awake and ready to experience God’s grace.

These readings also call us to share the truth of the faith with others.  Eli shares the truth of God with Samuel and John shares the truth with Andrew who shares the truth with Simon.  Andrew then brings Simon to Jesus.  Had Andrew not shared his faith with Peter he might not have become the rock upon which the church was built.

May we listen to and follow the Lord’s call as did Samuel and share the truth of our faith with others as did Andrew.

The theme for this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, "Abide in my love...you shall bear much fruit," is from John 15:1-17 

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The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has a history of over 100 years , in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity.  By annually observing the WPCU, Christians move toward the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper "that they all may be one."  (cf. John 17:21)

In preparation for the WPCU, ecumenical partners in a particular region were asked to prepare a basic text on a biblical theme. Then an international group organized through the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity edited this text, which was jointly published by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and WCC, through their Commission on Faith and Order.  The WCC accompanied the entire production process of the text. The final material was sent to member churches and Roman Catholic dioceses, and they were invited to translate the text and contextualize it for their own use.

Further promotional and preparatory materials for the 2021 WPCU can be found through the World Council of Churches and the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute websites, including:

• Suggestions for observing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
• Thematic poster art, music, and prayer cards (English/Spanish)
• Scripture readings, commentaries and questions for reflection
• Ecumenical prayer service model
• Historical and contextual information

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THE HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTION FOR THE YEAR 2021

THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS ENTRUSTED TO HIS WORLDWIDE PRAYER NETWORK FOR THE YEAR 2021

JANUARY:  Intention for evangelization - Human fraternity
May the Lord give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions, praying for one another, open to all.

FEBRUARY:  Universal intention - Violence against women
We pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded.

MARCH:  Intention for evangelization - Sacrament of reconciliation
Let us pray that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed depth, to taste the infinite mercy of God.

APRIL:  Universal intention - Fundamental rights
We pray for those who risk their lives while fighting for fundamental rights under dictatorships, authoritarian regimes and even in democracies in crisis.

MAY:  Universal intention - The world of finance
Let us pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its dangers.

JUNE:  Intention for evangelization - The beauty of marriage
Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.

JULY:  Universal intention - Social friendship
We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship.

AUGUST:  Intention for evangelization - The Church
Let us pray for the Church, that She may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the Gospel.

SEPTEMBER:  Universal intention - An environmentally sustainable lifestyle
We pray that we all will make courageous choices for a simple and environmentally sustainable lifestyle, rejoicing in our young people who are resolutely committed to this.

OCTOBER:  Intention for evangelization - Missionary disciples
We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavour of the Gospel.

NOVEMBER:  Universal intention - People who suffer from depression
We pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support and a light that opens them up to life.

DECEMBER:  Intention for evangelization - Catechists
Let us pray for the catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God: may they be its witnesses, with courage and creativity and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Vatican, 31st January 2020
Francis
Original : Italian

Sacred Heart has a Saturday evening mass beginning at 5:30 pm. In addition, our Sunday morning mass is at 11:00 am. During the weekday we only have one Mass at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.
The Saturday evening mass is livecast on Sacred Heart Facebook Page.

If you have already, completed your 2020 Census form please, accept our thanks! If you have not had the opportunity, to complete your 2020 Census form please, do so as soon as possible. State funding depends on the Census Count. There are (3) ways to complete your Census form. Phone 844-330-2020 - Quick and Easy Online at 2020census.gov Mail in your form (If you have, a Post Office Box you will not receive the census form.) In addition, please encourage other family members, friends, co-workers, fellow parishioners, and neighbors to be counted in the 2020 Census by reaching out to them via phone, text, email, Face-book or Instagram. Thanks for your support!
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Congratulation Raney Johnson
With praise and Thanksgiving to Almighty God. Raney Christopher Johnson was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon, through the imposition of hands and the Invocation of the Holy Spirit by His Excellency Most Reverend Francis I. Malone, Bishop of Shreveport. On Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the morning at St. Mary of the Pines Church 1050 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71118. Congratulations Raney. Best wishes on your continued journey to the Priesthood.
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After Wed. Morning Mass and
by Appointment (Except Mondays)

Location:
4736 Lyba Street
Shreveport, LA   71109

Postal Mail:
PO Box 19467
Shreveport, LA   71149-0467

Rectory:            318-635-2121
Church:             318-635-2121
Fax:                  318-635-5226
Gabriel Hall:     318-635-5446